The STAR Ghana Foundation has reiterated its commitment to promoting peace, security and disaster resilience in Northern Ghana.
Executive Director of STAR Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, highlighted the urgent need to tackle insecurity to drive development in the region.
“The north is always said to be underdeveloped, the north is said to be so many years behind other parts of Ghana. But we cannot address that developmental gap if we do not address the underlining cause, all of which is insecurity,” he stated.
Mr. Amidu made these remarks on Wednesday during a meeting with the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, in his office.
He pointed out the Upper East Region’s vulnerability due to its proximity to the conflict-ridden Sahel and the ongoing Bawku crisis, both of which pose significant security threats.
To address these challenges, STAR Ghana is spearheading two key initiatives aimed at strengthening security in the Upper East, Upper West, North East, Northern and Savannah Regions.
The Peace and Security Commission Dialogue, a biannual forum hosted on a rotational basis by the Regional Coordinating Councils of the five regions, serves as a platform for stakeholders to exchange strategies, identify security gaps, and coordinate responses. Since its inception in Tamale, the dialogue has convened in Bolgatanga, Wa and Damongo, with the next session scheduled for Nalerigu in the North East Region.
Additionally, the Northern Disaster Fund, launched in partnership with the World Food Programme, is designed to facilitate swift responses to natural disasters like floods and droughts.
Mr. Amidu reported significant progress in establishing the Fund, including the formation of a Board of Trustees, with each region nominating a representative. However, he said the nomination process was paused pending the appointment of new regional ministers following the recent elections.
The engagement with the Upper East Regional Minister also provided an opportunity to formally congratulate him on his appointment and discuss the collaborative efforts required to strengthen peace and security in the region.
Beyond security, STAR Ghana is actively involved in fostering social cohesion. The Foundation supports the annual Northern Ghana Development Summit, which brings together key stakeholders to map out development strategies.
“Peace and security pave the way for private sector investment and civil society collaboration, which are vital for development”, Mr. Amidu emphasized.
Another crucial initiative discussed was the integration of Fulani communities into mainstream society. As part of this effort, STAR Ghana presented a manual on the inclusion of Fulbes by both state and non-state actors to Mr. Atanga.
In response, the Upper East Regional Minister commended STAR Ghana’s efforts and assured the leadership of his commitment to making the disaster fund operational.
“We will put our heads together. We will do our nomination that you have requested, that one prominent person, represent us on the board,” he affirmed.
On the registration of Fulbes, the minister acknowledged that exclusion often fuels conflict and pledged to review the manual as a guide for engaging local authorities.
“Even if we are in a community where you are even the same tribe, they can even zero it down to clans. I feel like this clan is smaller and this clan is bigger and then they can be causing problems there.
“We will also try to look at {the manual} in our effort to bring peace. How do we get minority groups accepted so that together we can work? We will try to expose these ideas so that at the end of the day we will also be able to instill what you have brought”, he stressed.
Source: www.kumasimail.com/Joseph Ziem
